One of the consequences that has arisen as a result of the Los Angeles Lakers’ disappointing and tumultuous season has been the advent of some uncertainty when it comes to the future of center Dwight Howard. Speaking on the ESPNLA 710 radio station, though, team president Jim Buss said that the Lakers are all but certain that Howard—a free agent this summer—would be back long-term.

“Ninety-five percent, we'll be able to keep him," Buss told the station.

Dwight Howard is 95 percent likely to stay with the Los Angeles Lakers after the season, according to team president Jim Buss. (AP Photo)

When the Lakers traded for Howard in August, star guard Kobe Bryant said that he expected to play only a couple more years, and that after that, the team would be Howard’s. But as this season has gone on, Howard has had difficulty fitting in with his new team, and reports of conflicts with Bryant have surfaced.

The Lakers have flatly denied that Howard and Bryant had an altercation, but even if that’s the case, it remains clear that Howard’s transition to L.A. has not gone smoothly. The Lakers, expected to compete for a championship, are just 15-20, five games out of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Though Howard has put up very good numbers—he is averaging 17.3 points and 12.4 rebounds, with 2.6 blocks—his stats have gone down significantly from his heyday in the Orlando Magic, and his skill set doesn’t seem to match the quick-hitting, versatile offense that coach Mike D’Antoni wants to run, with Steve Nash at point guard. Nash, remember, was signed to a three-year deal before the season, and D’Antoni has a four-year contract.

That means, if Howard consents to sign a maximum deal—which would run for five years—with the Lakers this summer, he likely would be committing to playing for D’Antoni and alongside Nash for at least two of those five seasons.

There will be competition for Howard’s services in the offseason, too. The Dallas Mavericks has an acre of cap space, and it is no secret that the Mavs will offer a max deal to Howard. Howard’s hometown team, the Atlanta Hawks, are also expected to be interested, though it is not clear whether Howard would want to play in Atlanta.